Richard Attenborough facts for kids

Quick facts for kids The Right Honourable Richard Attenborough CBE FRSA
Attenborough in 1975
Born	Richard Samuel Attenborough (1923-08-29)29 August 1923 Cambridge, England
Died	24 August 2014(2014-08-24) (aged 90) Northwood, London, England
Resting place	St Mary Magdalene, Richmond, London
Occupation	Actor film director producer
Political party	Labour
Spouse(s)	Sheila Sim ​ (m. 1945)​
Children	Michael Jane Charlotte
Parent(s)	Frederick Attenborough (father)
Relatives	David Attenborough (brother) John Attenborough (brother) Gerald Sim (brother-in-law) Tom Attenborough (grandson) Will Attenborough (grandson)
Member of the House of Lords
Lord Temporal
Life peerage 30 July 1993 – 24 August 2014
Military career
Allegiance	United Kingdom
Service/branch	Royal Air Force
Years of service	1940–1945
Rank	Sergeant
Unit	Film Production Unit
Battles/wars	Second World War

Richard Samuel Attenborough, Baron Attenborough (29 August 1923 – 24 August 2014) was a famous English actor, film director, and producer. He was also known as Lord Attenborough.

Richard Attenborough was the older brother of the well-known nature broadcaster, Sir David Attenborough. He was married to actress Sheila Sim from 1945 until he passed away.

As an actor, he is remembered for his roles in movies like Brighton Rock (1948), The Great Escape (1963), Jurassic Park (1993), and Miracle on 34th Street (1994). In 1952, he was part of the original cast of Agatha Christie's play The Mousetrap, which became the longest-running play in the world.

Richard Attenborough also directed many films. For his movie Gandhi (1983), he won two Academy Awards for Best Picture and Best Director. He also won several BAFTA Awards and Golden Globe Awards.

Richard Attenborough: Early Life and War Service

Richard Attenborough was born in Cambridge, England, on 29 August 1923. He was the oldest of three sons. His father, Frederick Attenborough, was a scholar. Richard studied at the RADA.

During World War II, his family welcomed two German Jewish refugee girls into their home. They adopted the girls after the war.

Attenborough served in the Royal Air Force during the Second World War. He joined the Royal Air Force Film Production Unit. He even flew on bombing missions over Europe, filming the action from the back of the plane.

Richard Attenborough's Acting Career

Attenborough in Flight of the Phoenix (1965)

Richard Attenborough started his acting career on stage. His first credited film role was in The Hundred Pound Window (1944). He became well-known for his role as Pinkie Brown in Brighton Rock (1947).

In 1952, he and his wife, Sheila Sim, were in the first cast of the play The Mousetrap. This play ran for nearly 70 years! Attenborough later sold some of his share in the play to help fund his film Gandhi.

He acted in many British films over the next 30 years. In 1963, he appeared in the big Hollywood movie The Great Escape. He played Squadron Leader Roger Bartlett, known as "Big X".

He won awards for his acting in films like Guns at Batasi (1964) and The Sand Pebbles (1966). He also played Albert Blossom in Doctor Dolittle.

In 1971, he played the real-life serial killer John Christie in 10 Rillington Place. He took a break from acting after 1979. He returned to play John Hammond in Steven Spielberg's Jurassic Park (1993) and its sequel, The Lost World: Jurassic Park (1997). He also played Kris Kringle in Miracle on 34th Street (1994).

His final film role was as the narrator in Puckoon (2002).

Richard Attenborough: Producer and Director

In the late 1950s, Attenborough started his own film company, Beaver Films. He began producing movies like The League of Gentlemen (1959).

His first film as a director was Oh! What a Lovely War (1969). After this, he focused more on directing. He directed two big historical films: Young Winston (1972), about Winston Churchill's early life, and A Bridge Too Far (1977), about a World War II battle.

His most famous film as a director was Gandhi (1982). He worked for 18 years to make this movie. It won him two Academy Awards. He also directed A Chorus Line (1985) and the anti-apartheid film Cry Freedom (1987).

Later, he directed Chaplin (1992), starring Robert Downey Jr. as Charlie Chaplin. He also directed Shadowlands (1993). His last film as a director was Closing the Ring (2007), a love story set during World War II.

Richard Attenborough's Later Projects and Interests

Attenborough at the 2007 Toronto International Film Festival

Richard Attenborough was involved with many charities and organizations. For 33 years, he was the president of the Muscular Dystrophy campaign. He became their Honorary Life President in 2004.

He was also a supporter of the United World Colleges movement. These colleges promote education that does not judge people based on their background. He founded a learning center in Swaziland in memory of his daughter, Jane, who died in the 2004 tsunami.

He founded The Richard Attenborough Arts Centre at Leicester University in 1997. It was designed to be easily used by people with disabilities. He was also the Chancellor of the University of Sussex from 1998 to 2008.

Attenborough was a lifelong fan of Chelsea Football Club. He served as a director of the club for many years. In 2008, he was made the Life President of Chelsea Football Club.

He always wanted to make a film about Thomas Paine, a political writer. He admired Paine's ideas about human rights and education. However, he could not get enough money to make the film.

Richard Attenborough's Personal Life

Lord Attenborough as Chancellor of the University of Sussex, February 2006

Richard Attenborough's father was the head of University College, Leicester. This led to Attenborough having a long connection with the university. His younger brothers are the famous naturalist David Attenborough and motor executive John Attenborough.

He married actress Sheila Sim in 1945. They lived in Richmond, London, for many years.

On 26 December 2004, his elder daughter, Jane Holland, her mother-in-law, and his 15-year-old granddaughter, Lucy, were killed by a tsunami in Thailand.

Attenborough had two other children: Michael, a theatre director, and Charlotte, an actress.

He was a supporter of the Labour Party in politics. He also collected Picasso ceramics.

In 2008, he published a book about his life called Entirely Up to You, Darling.

Richard Attenborough's Later Years and Passing

Markers for the graves of Richard Attenborough, Sheila Sim, their daughter Jane Holland and their granddaughter, Lucy, at St Mary Magdalene, Richmond.

In 2008, Richard Attenborough had heart problems and later suffered a stroke. The stroke left him needing a wheelchair. In 2012, he moved into a nursing home in London to be with his wife, Sheila, who also needed care.

Richard Attenborough passed away on 24 August 2014, just before his 91st birthday. He was buried in St Mary Magdalene church in Richmond, next to his daughter Jane and granddaughter Lucy. His wife, Sheila, passed away in 2016.

Richard Attenborough's Honours and Awards

Richard Attenborough received many honours for his work. In 1967, he was made a Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE). In 1976, he was made a Knight Bachelor, which means he was called "Sir Richard Attenborough".

In 1993, he became a life peer and was known as Baron Attenborough. This meant he could sit in the House of Lords, which is part of the UK Parliament.

He was also honoured in India with the Padma Bhushan award. He received awards from France, including the Legion of Honour. The South African government also honoured him for his work against apartheid.

In 2006, he and his brother David were given special titles by the University of Leicester. In 2012, Pinewood Studios named a large film stage after him.

Richard Attenborough: Filmography

Films Directed and Produced

Acting Roles in Films

Video Games (Voice Roles)

Richard Attenborough: Awards and Nominations

Academy Awards

BAFTA Awards

Golden Globe Awards

Richard Attenborough: Portrayals in Media

Richard Attenborough has been shown as a character in different TV shows and films.

• In the 1970s, he was portrayed in the British comedy show Monty Python's Flying Circus.
• In 1985, Chris Barrie played him in The Lenny Henry Show.
• In 2012, Simon Callow played him in the BBC Four film The Best Possible Taste.
• Harris Dickinson plays Attenborough in the 2022 movie See How They Run.

Images for kids

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  Attenborough in 1975

See also

In Spanish: Richard Attenborough para niños